Our Focus is on Innovation and Collaboration
Since 2002 Otago Innovation has been responsible for transforming cutting-edge University of Otago research into market-ready inventions. We support researchers from all campus locations and across the spectrum of academic disciplines to identify opportunities for commercialisation.
About Otago Innovation
A wholly-owned subsidiary of the University of Otago, Otago Innovation works with and alongside Otago’s academic staff to explore opportunities for research translation through commercialisation (also known as technology transfer).
We have an experienced team of well-connected commercialisation professionals ready to guide you along the journey. Through the use of PreSeed Accelerator funding, we provide access to deep domain expertise through a range of service providers to help us identify a niche for your discovery, and we facilitate access to specialist committees to hone the value proposition and provide connections to potential partners and investors. Our ultimate goal is to get discoveries to the point they are investor ready.
Our History
Otago Innovation was formed in 2003 with the purpose of facilitating the commercialisation of research discoveries out of the University of Otago. While a lot has happened over that time, we have remain true to that purpose.
Our Board of Directors
Otago Innovation is governed by an experienced board comprising independent and University appointments. Our directors are Rachel McLauchlan (independent), Hon Pete Hodgson (independent) and Helen Darling (independent).
“Rarely are opportunities presented to you in a perfect way. In a nice little box with a yellow bow on top. Opportunities – the good ones – are messy, confusing and hard to recognise. They’re risky. They challenged you.”
– Susan Wojcicki, CEO YouTube